Apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam.



No. 841,006. PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

" H. P. EWELL.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF REDUCING AMALG AM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. s, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 841,006. PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907.

H. P, EWELL. APPARATUS PORTHE-MANUFAGTUR-E- OF REDUCING AMALGAM. APPLICATION FILED JAN.8,1906.

a SHEETS'SHEET 2f No. 841,006. PATENTED JAN. 8, 1907. H. P. EWELL- APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF REDUCING AMALGAM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. s, 1906.

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ing-amalgam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT P. EWELL, OF ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF REDUClNG-AMALGAIVI'.

No. 841,006. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 8, 1907. i

Application filed January 8,1906. er al N0- 295,026.

ing agent unimpaired service in the amalgamating-machme.

A further object is to provide means for agitating the amalgamating material at the time of the introduction of the reducing agent thereinto to facilitate amalgamation and obviate the formation of hard sodium amalgam in excess of mercury. l A further object is to provide for the. passage .of the mercury or amalgania'ting material through the apparatus by gravity in a T0 00% who! it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT P. EWELL, a citizen of.- the United States, residing at in the county of Oakland, State of Michigan, have invented certain new an useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Reducing-Amalgam; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suc as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

This invention relatesto apparatus for the l'gam for amalthereof.

A further object is to provide for the intro duction of heat to the apparatus, so as to reduce the sodium to a fluid and maintain it in a fluid state when introduced-into .the mercury or amalgamating material.

The above objects are attained by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which" Figure 1 is a vertical section through the manufacture of reducing-ama gamating purposes and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, andipointed out particularly in the claims.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple and efficient means for introducap aratus, as on line 1 1 of Fig. 4. Fig. 2 1s ing the reducing agent, preferably sodium, a like section, as on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 into the amalgamating material, preferably is a similar section, as on lme 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus ;Wlth the casing appearing in horizontal section and the top section removed. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section through the receptacles forming the middle section, tl agitator being omitted-and the section being taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse section, as on line 6 6 of Fig. 1. is a transverse section, as on line 7 7 of Fig. 5. The apparatus in which the reducingamalgamis formed consists of a rectangular body, comprisingan upper section, a central or middle section, and a lower section,which may be made separately or integral, as de sired. The upper sectioncomprises a receptacle 1, having a hinged'top side an inclined wall 3,whereby the bottom 4 of the receptacle 1 is-materiallyreduced in length, but in .width remains equal to the width of said receptacle. Located in bosses 5, depending fromthe bottom :d of said re mercury, in a manner I mation of a solid block of sodium amalgam,

the reducing-amalgam forme by the sodium fluid and mercury being maintained in a state because of the presence of an excess 0 mercury over the sodium.

Afurther object is to provide for returning the mercury from an amalgamatingmachine and introducing it into the apparatus wherein the reducing-amalgam is formed, provision being made for washing the mercury, so as to cleanse it of all impurities and foreign mat ter and-for heating it, so as to drive the moisture therefrom before introduction into the chamber wherein it is amalgamated with sodium, the cleansing and drying of the mercury obviating exhausting the sodium by contact with oxids and sulfids and with the moisture which the mercury would otherwise contain afterwashing were it not dried.

A further object is to provide for a continuous flow of the mercury into the apparatus ceptacle, are a number of plug-cockvabfes 6, from an amalgamator and the discharge through which the contents of thereceptacle from the apparatus of a reducing-amalgam 1 may be discharged iuto'the amalgam'atinginto an amalgamating-machine. chamber 7 of the middle division of the apwhich is immediately below the botparatus,

Projecting into the A further ob'ect is to'provide for excluding tom of the receptacle;

' the apparatus,

the oxygen in air from the reducing agent in soas to prevent it attacking the air and for excluding air from the reducwhile being formed for the thereby maintaining the reductherein,by means having suitable apertures of flame may be of which a number of jets same reason,

manner to obviate a possible backward flow 2 and upon one until it is brought into Y Fig. 7

amalgamating-chamber 7 is aga's-plpe 8, j

directed against the under side of the bottom charge-openings from the 4 for the purpose of heating the contents of said receptacle. Within the receptacle 1 is placed a reducing agent 9, preferably sodium, which is rendered fluid by the application of eat, so as to enable it to be fed as desired through the plug-cock valves into the amalgamating-chamber. Within the t e surface of the sodium and prevents the be incident to the contact of air therewith.

' Occupying the lower portion of the amalgamating-chamber' is a suitable amalgam material 11, preferably mercury, and upon the top of said mercury is a stratum of paraflin'12. Crossing the top of the amalgamating-chamber is a covering-plate 13, having apertures therethrough in line with the disvalves 6, so as to permit the sodium from receptacle 1 to flow into the amalgamating-chamber, said sodium passing through the paraffin because of its greater specific gravity and reaching the surface of the mercury 11. The presence of the paraffin upon the surface of the mercury in the amalgamating-chamber excludes air from the mercury, thereby preventingan explosion which would otherwise occur upon contact of the sodium with the surface of the mercury.

of mercury, so as to always cess of mercur thereby suspending the sodium therein and maintaining the sodium amalgam in the desired state of fluidity, said agitators consisting of radial arms 14, projecting from the parallel rotary shafts 15, w 'ch are suitably journaled in the amalgamating-chamber and whose outer ends are connected by the meshing gears 16, one of said shafts carrying a pulley 17 by means of which the desired rotary motion is imparted thereto.

to the machine as to causeit to flowfrom well to I well down the inclined table in which the wells are located tall of the cally a constant flow of the reducing-amalhe amalgamating-chamber, thereby ex- To rid the return mercury of its impurities, it is discharged through a suitable p1pe 18 into a washing-tank 19, in which 11 indicates the mercury or amalgamatingmaterial, and 20'the water, which is maintained at the proper level by means of an overfiowpipe-21, the water being supplied througha suitable spray-pipe 22, which projects over the tank 19. From the washing-tank the carbon gas through a pipe 25.

It will be noted that below the level of the tank and at the same time insure the drawing,

of th ing-tank, so as to avoid the dirt be upon the surface thereof, said tanks are the washingtank. Connecting the washingtank at the level of the bottom thereof with the vertical passage-way 27 is an opening 30. (More clearly shown in Fig. 3.)

the opening 30'from the body of the the mercury must flow horizontal opening 30. By this arrangement it will be noted that the mercury flowing through th v v sage 27 to the level of the horizontal passage 29. After reaching the level of tal passage 29 the addition of mercury to the washing-tank will cause an overflow of mercury from passage 29 into the vertical pase mercury from the bottom of the washsage 28 and through the horizontal opening 32 at the bottom of passage 28 into the dryingtank 23.

It will therefore be seen that by this arrangement the mercury in the washing-tank is always maintained at the level of the hori zontal passage 29 and that in order to enter said passage 29 the mercury must first enter the vertical passage 27 through the horizontal opening 30, thereby causing the mercury to draw from the bottom or lower portion of the washing-tank. The same arrangement is used in providing for the passage of the mercury from the drying-chamber 23 into the amalgamating-chamber 7, the communicating passages being formed in the dividingwall 33, which separates said tanks, the mer- I cury flowing over the apron 34 to the hori zontal passage 35,'thence to a vertical passage leading to the upper horizontal passage 36, the height of which determines the level of mercury in the drying-tank, thence into the vertical passage 37, which communicates at its lower end with an aperture 38, leading into the bottom of the amalgamating-chamber. have been thoroughly amalgamated, as be fore described, the reducing-amalgam is discharged from the amalgamating-chamber through a port 39 at the level of the bottom of the amalgamating-chamber formed through the partition 40 and communicating with the vertical passage 41, with which the horizontal passage 42 communicates, said horizontal passage determining the level of the amalgam in the amalgamating-chamber. A vertical passage 43 receives the amalgam from the horizontal passage 42 and directs it into a vertical tube 44, whose lower end terminates adjacent to the bottom of the storage tank or receptacle 45, in which the reducing-amalgam is contained and from which said amalgam is conveyed to an amalgamatingma chine (not shown) by a suitable pipe 46, communicating with the bottom thereof. The storage-tank is provided with a closed top 47, which excludes air therefrom and prevents foreign substances falling into the reducing amalgam after it is prepared.

Tlie'apparatus is inclosed in a sheet-iron casing 48, which is spaced from the walls thereof to afford a circulation of air, said casing at the bottom being provided with ventilating-openings 49 and at the top with ventilating-openings 50. The lower openings ermit of the entrance of suflicient air to supply the burners, while the upper openings permit of the escape of the moisture which 1s evaporated from the mercury in the dryingtank.

It will now be understood that by means of this apparatus the mercury used in an amalgamating-machine may be wasited, dried, and amalgamated with a suitable reducing agent and in the form of a reducing agent After the mercury and sodium shall reducing-amalgam,

l l l passed through the amalgamatingmachine, and the mercury after the exhaustion of the reducing agent again returned for reamalgamation, making it possible to maintain a continuous operation.

It is essential to amalgamation that the mercury at the time of the introduction of the sodium be heated. The heat necessary for the purpose of amalgamation is supplied to the mercury in the drying-tank and is retained by the mercury in its passage to the am algamating-ch amber:

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-- 1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam, the combination of a re ceptacle for the reducing agent, an amalgamating-chal'nber, means for discharging the reducing agent into the amalgamating material in said chamber, and means for excluding air from the amalgamating material at the point of introduction of the reducing agent thereto.

2. In an apparatus for the manufacture of the combination of a receptacle for the reducing agent, an amalgamating-chamber, means for discharging the reducing agent into the amalgamating mate rial in said chamber, means for excluding air from the amalgamating material at the point of introduction of th e reducing agent thereto, and an agitator within the amalgamating chamber to facilitate amalgamatio 3. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducingamalgam, the combination of a receptacle for the reducing agent, anamalgamating-chamber, means for introducing the reducing agent into the amalgamating material in said chamber, means for applying heat to the reducing agent to maintain it in a fluid state, means for excluding air from the amal gamating material at the point of introduction of the reducing agent thereto, and an agitator to facilitate amalgamation.

4. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam, the combination of a re ceptacle for the reducing agent, means for heating the reducing agent in said receptacle to maintain it in a fluid state, means for excluding air from the surface of said reducing agent, an amalgamating-chamber, means for discharging the reducing agentonto the surface of the amalgamating material in said chamber, means or excluding air from the surface of the amalgamating material, and an agitator to facilitate amalgamation.

5. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam, the combination of a receptacle for the reducing agent, means for applying heat to hold said reducing agent in a fluid state, a fatty substance in a fluid state upon the surface of the reducing agent to exclude air therefrom, an amalgam-chamber,

means for discharging the reducing agent amalgamating-chamber,

into the amalgamating material in said a fatty substance upon the surface amalgamating material through which the reducing agent passes, and means for facilitating amalgamation.

6. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducingamalgam, the combination of an amalgamating-ch amber, means for introducing amalgamating material into said chamber, means for washing and drying said amalgamating material before entrance into said chamber, a receptacle for the reducing agent, and means for discharging the reducing agent into the amalgamating material in said chamber to form the reducing-amalgam.

7. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam, the combination of an amalgamating-chamber adapted to contain amalgamating material, a receptacle to contain the reducing agent, means for discharging the reducing agent in small quantities into'the amalgamating material in said chamber, and means for excluding air from the amalgamating material at the point of entrance of the reducing agent thereinto.

8. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam, the combination of an a drying-tank, a washing-tank, means for regulating and directing the flow of the amalgamating mate- 9. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam, the combination of a washing-tank, a drying-tank, an amal amating-chamber arranged in successive ydeclining planes in the order mentioned, means for maintaining the amalgamating material at a proper level in said tanks and chamber and directing the flow of said material by gravity into saidchamber through said tanks.

10. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducing-amalgam, the-combination of an amalgamating-chamber, means for introducing amalgamating material into said chamber, means for washing and drying said amalgamating material before entrance into said chamber, and means for discharging the reducing agent into the amalgamating material in said chamber to form the reducingamalgam.

11. In an apparatus for the manufacture of reducingamalgam, the combination of an amalgamating-chamber adapted to contain amalgamating material, means for discharging the reducing agent into the amalgamating material in said chamber, and means for maintaining the amalgamating material in excess of the reducing agent at the point of introduction of said reducing agent into said amalgamating material.

In testimony whereof I sign this specificarial through said tanks into said chamber, a tion in the presence of two witnesses.

receptacle for the reducing agent, means for directing the reducing agent from said. receptacle into the amalgamating material,

and an agitator to facilitate amalgamation.

HERBERT P. EWELL. Witnesses E. S. WHEELER, I. G. HOWLETT. 

